The straw test tells the whole story. If you can take a big, frosty sip straight away, you are probably holding a milkshake. If the straw puts up a fight and your spoon suddenly feels like the smarter choice, chances are it is a thickshake. The milkshake versus thickshake debate is deliciously simple on the surface, yet every diner, café and ice cream bar can put its own spin on the classics.
Both belong in the hall of fame for cold, creamy treats. Both can be chocolatey, fruity, caramel-loaded or sprinkled with enough fun to make the table stop and stare. The real difference comes down to texture, ingredients and what sort of indulgent moment you are after.
Milkshake versus thickshake: the main difference
A milkshake is generally the lighter, more drinkable option. It is blended from milk, ice cream and flavouring or syrup, creating a smooth, cold drink that travels happily through a straw. Think creamy rather than heavy, with enough looseness to sip between bites of a smash burger, hot dog or a pile of crispy fries.
A thickshake takes that creamy idea and turns up the dial. It usually contains more ice cream, less milk, or both. The result is denser, richer and slower to melt. A proper thickshake has body. It should cling to the side of the glass, hold its flavour from first spoonful to last and make you work just a little harder for the reward.
That is the diner-friendly rule of thumb, but it is not a universal law. In New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the US, the names have travelled through different café cultures. One spot’s milkshake may be another spot’s thickshake, particularly when generous scoops of premium ice cream are involved. If texture matters to you, asking whether it is made extra thick is more useful than relying on the name alone.
What goes into each creamy classic?
The milkshake starts with balance. Milk keeps it fluid, while ice cream gives it that familiar velvet finish. Chocolate, strawberry and vanilla are old-school stars for good reason, but there is plenty of room for bold flavours too. Salted caramel, cookies and cream, banana, berry sauces and malt can all turn a simple shake into a full-on dessert moment.
A thickshake puts ice cream front and centre. More scoops mean a colder, more decadent finish, while a smaller splash of milk helps the blender do its job without making the drink watery. Some recipes use flavour syrups, others use crushed biscuits, fruit, chocolate sauce or chunks of confectionery. The best versions taste like their headline flavour, not just sweetened milk.
There is also a cheeky middle ground. Add enough ice cream to a milkshake and it starts behaving like a thickshake. Add a little extra milk to a thickshake and it becomes easier to sip. That flexibility is part of the fun. These are diner treats, not chemistry exams.
Texture changes the whole experience
A milkshake is made for easy drinking. It is a brilliant sidekick to salty, savoury food because it is refreshing without being too filling. That classic sweet-and-salty contrast is why a cool chocolate shake beside hot, crunchy fries has such enduring appeal.
A thickshake is closer to a dessert in a glass. It is ideal when the shake is the main event, when you have a serious ice cream craving, or when you want a treat worth lingering over. Spoonable thickness gives each mouthful more weight, and richer flavours can feel even more indulgent when they are cold and dense.
Neither texture is automatically better. A hot Waikato afternoon might call for something lighter and sippable. A rainy-day catch-up, a birthday outing or a post-dinner sweet treat may be the perfect excuse for a thick, glorious glass of ice cream goodness.
Flavour is not just about the syrup
The quality of the ice cream makes a bigger difference than many people realise. A shake with premium ice cream tastes creamier, carries flavour more fully and avoids that thin, icy finish nobody ordered. When vanilla is made well, it is not boring at all. It is rich, mellow and ready to pair with almost anything.
Chocolate lovers usually have a clear mission, but even chocolate shakes come with choices. A lighter chocolate milkshake can be nostalgic and refreshing. A thick chocolate shake can be dark, fudgy and decadent enough to satisfy a proper dessert craving. Strawberry brings a bright, playful sweetness, while caramel leans buttery and indulgent.
Toppings add theatre as well as flavour. Whipped cream, a drizzle of sauce, crushed biscuits, sprinkles and a cherry can take a classic drink from familiar to photo-worthy. Just remember that toppings can make a thickshake even richer. That is excellent news when you are ready to commit, but perhaps less ideal if you are also planning a big burger, fries and waffles.
How to choose between a milkshake and a thickshake
Start with your appetite. If you want a drink to enjoy alongside lunch or dinner, a milkshake is usually the easy pick. It is smooth, cold and satisfying without taking over the entire meal. If dessert is the plan, a thickshake gives you that extra ice cream hit and a little more time at the table.
Next, think about pace. A milkshake is for sipping while the conversation rolls on. A thickshake invites you to slow down, alternate between straw and spoon, and enjoy the creamy chaos. For younger diners, the novelty of a super-thick shake can be half the excitement. For anyone who dislikes battling a straw, a classic milkshake may be the happier choice.
Finally, choose by mood, not rules. Going for a retro diner feast with your mates? Order the flavour that sounds most scrumptious. Taking the family out for a weekend treat? Let everyone pick their own creamy favourite. Sharing dessert after a celebration? A thickshake is delightfully over-the-top in exactly the right way.
Want it thicker or lighter? Just say so
The best shake order is the one that suits you. If you love an extra-thick blend, ask for a thickshake or mention that you would like plenty of ice cream. If you want something easier to drink, a milkshake-style blend is your friend. Staff can often point you towards flavours and formats that match what you are craving.
It is also worth thinking about what else is on the table. A rich, loaded shake can be a meal in itself, while a lighter milkshake leaves more room for a hot dog, a sundae later on, or the final waffle wedge everyone claims they are too full to eat. There is no wrong choice, only different levels of deliciousness.
The retro diner verdict
Milkshakes and thickshakes come from the same happy place: cold glasses, creamy ice cream, bright flavours and a little bit of old-school fun. A milkshake wins when you want smooth, easy sipping. A thickshake wins when you want a spoon-worthy dessert with serious staying power.
At Boofs Ice Cream Diner, that is the beauty of the choice. Make it light and frosty, make it thick and indulgent, or make it the delicious blast from the past that turns an ordinary meal into an outing worth remembering. Bring your appetite, pick your flavour and let the straw test decide the rest.